For up-and-coming mixed martial artists, “The Ultimate Fighter” is
an opportunity to win a UFC contract and demonstrate their skills
for a larger audience. However, more than that, it’s an opportunity
to get in touch with experienced fighters and maybe get help with
training outside the house.

That’s what drew Guilherme
Vasconcelos, who lost a decision to Ricardo
“Demente” Abreu on last week’s episode of “TUF: Brazil 3.”
Despite his elimination, “Bomba” developed a friendship with his
coach, former UFC middleweight title challenger Chael
Sonnen, and now trains with the “American Gangster” in the
U.S.

In an interview with Sherdog.com, Vasconcelos spoke about his
controversial coach, Sonnen’s upcoming fight with Wanderlei
Silva, and the “TUF” experience.

How has your experience been with Sonnen in the U.S.?
The experience has been much better than I expected. We’re training
together at Mark Munoz’s
Reign Training Center, and from here we go to Oregon, Chael’s
birthplace. We’re training a little bit of everything, but I’m
focusing on wrestling, which is a part of my training that I needed
to improve, just by not having good wrestlers in Brazil. It’s been
very fruitful.

How is Sonnen as a coach and a person?
My first contact with Sonnen was as a coach at the “TUF” house.
There, he was very attentive and technical. He studied our games
and told us exactly what we needed to do to improve while we were
there. As a person, he surprised me even more. He showed that, in
addition to being technical, he is a great friend and a supporter.
He opened the doors of his house to me and welcomed me as if I were
an old friend.

When you entered the “TUF” house, did you prefer to be chosen by
him?
Regardless of the team that picked me, something that I always had
in my head is that I’d be fighting for me, since MMA is an
individual sport. Since I grew up watching Wanderlei fight,
initially, I would have chosen him. However, I knew that if I was
chosen by Sonnen, I’d also be in great hands, knowing the high
technical level that he has. Today, I’m sure that being chosen by
Sonnen was the best thing that could have happened to me.

Did the invitation to train in the U.S. come from
Sonnen?
The invitation came naturally. I showed interest in training in the
U.S. with him, and he showed interest in my trip, and so it
happened. I’m here now and will stay until the end of May.

Do you think the fact that Sonnen doesn’t speak Portuguese hurt
when it came to his unity with the team?
Of course, the language barrier ends up being a hindrance. I can’t
believe it affected the unity of the group in any form, but at
times, I felt like he wanted to speak more with the fighters, but
they didn’t always understand. A few fighters on the team spoke
English, but we also had translators all the time. I believe that,
in general, what he wanted to teach us was well-received, but
individually, personal relationships with each fighter may have
been a little prejudiced.

What was the importance of Hortencia Marcari and Vinny
Magalhaes for your team
The fact that both are Brazilian and speak our language made us
feel a little more at home in the middle of a team of American
coaches. Hortencia has always been an icon in the national sport
and managed to motivate us with her experiences. As for Vinny, he
was a great coach, and because he’s a fighter and former “TUF”
participant, he knew exactly what we were going through. Being in
contact with him was very important.

Incidentally, does Sonnen know there’s a rumor here in Brazil
that he and Hortencia are having an affair?
So, yes, he knows. We had a lot of laughs about it because it’s
nothing but a big lie. Sonnen is a married guy, a super family man.
His wife was there with him the whole time and even got to know
Hortencia, too. It’s amazing how people are evil. It’s nothing but
a rumor, like so many others.

What did you think of Wanderlei’s attitude regarding
Sonnen?
I think Wanderlei may not have understood that the teasing was
clearly for the purpose of promoting the fight. One provokes the
other, and in the end, they fight, earn more money and go home.
Finished. Simple as that.

How do you think Sonnen will fight against Wanderlei?
I think Sonnen has the right strategy to stop Wanderlei, because
he’s strongest in Wanderlei’s worst department, which is
wrestling.

On the last episode of “TUF,” your teammates Warlley
Alves and Marcos
Rogerio “Pezao” de Lima said they will cheer for Wand in the
fight. How about you?
Well, since I was chosen by Sonnen, he’s become a great friend of
mine. Now, I’m living and training here with him, and I have only
compliments for him as a person. I want the whole of Brazil to have
the opportunity to meet him as I am meeting him. I think it’s more
than clear that I’m 100-percent rooting for him.

Talk a little about your origin in jiu-jitsu and major titles in
the sport.
My dream has always been fighting MMA, but my involvement with
fighting started in jiu-jitsu at 16 years old. I competed for many
years. I was the state champion, Brazilian national champion,
Brazilian team champion and two-time world champion.

What did you think of your fight with “Demente” Abreu? Even
losing, do you think you deserve a chance in the UFC?
It was a very tough fight. Like me, Demente also comes from
jiu-jitsu. I ended up choosing a stand-up fight, which I think was
beneficial for me. But he did take me down and, since he is a
noticeably stronger and heavier fighter, I spent a lot of energy
getting up, which wore me out. Even worn out, I looked for the
knockout until the end. As everyone saw, I walked forward and
sought to fight all the time, and I believe this is the style that
the UFC and the audience like. So, I deserve to be in the UFC.

With whom did you get along best in the “TUF” house?
Since I’m a quiet guy, I can say that I did well with everyone in
the house. Of course, I ended up getting closer to the fighters on
my team. We were together all the time. They were great people, but
I identified most with “Pezao” and “Peregrino” [Joilton
Santos], who have become great friends of mine now.

Which fighters most impressed you in this season?
I really like the styles of Vitor
Miranda and “Pezao.” They’re two great fighters with huge
potential. It was a pleasure to watch them train and train with
them.

If you could give advice to the producers for the next season of
“TUF: Brazil,” what would improve the program?
I think the program was great, but they should have allowed us
television, phone and Internet. [Laughs.] Jokes aside, I don’t see
what could be added to the program to make it better. It was all
excellent.